As ever, the County Councils' Network's (CCN) recent annual conference was a fantastic event which brought together leaders from across the local government sector to discuss challenges and opportunities facing councils across the country.
With a tough winter ahead, the importance of joint working between councils and the NHS has never been greater. IMPOWER sees this first-hand every day through our work with councils and the NHS across the country. Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) will become increasingly central to that shared endeavour.
That's why IMPOWER partnered with CCN to publish the first look into how these are working from the perspective of councils. The ensuing report – The Evolving Role of County Authorities in ICSs – found there are positive signs toward closer integration between councils and health partners across England. It also highlighted a tangible desire across local authorities and the NHS to reduce health inequalities, boost preventative services and improve outcomes for patients. However, there remain significant challenges to overcome before councils and ICSs can achieve true partnerships through the systems.
In last week's Autumn Statement, the Government committed to reviewing oversight of Integrated Care Boards. As the report demonstrates, this is already needed, as many of our interviewees highlighted difficulties around mandated, top-down targets from the NHS and central government which prevent local autonomy and stifle innovation.
Ahead of that review and to ensure we are taking every opportunity for the success of ICSs, lest they become another NHS reorganisation that is worked around, the report makes some key recommendations.
It suggests that both NHS partners and local authorities should recognise the importance of ‘place' in decision making and service delivery. They should focus on ensuring mechanisms within ICSs help to empower local decision makers and teams to deliver impactful solutions. Centrally mandated activity and targets that currently exist must not prevent localised strategies and solutions from being delivered within ICSs. This can be achieved through ICPs, council and local NHS leaders agreeing a small number of specific and achievable goals, which should be prioritised in the short term, to drive focus, build confidence and deliver real change, ensuring better outcomes that cost less.
To read the report in full, find it at our website below.
This article is sponsored content for The MJ
